Frozen on Their Tracks! (Japanese: デンリュウ列車！ハンサム登場！！Denryu Train! Enter Handsome!!) is the 130th episode of the Diamond & Pearl series, and the 596th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on June 4, 2009 and in the United States on October 31, 2009.

Contents

Synopsis

Having left Snowpoint City behind, Ash and his friends are now aboard a train leading to Lake Acuity, where Ash is due to have his full battle against Paul. Ash is naturally determined to win when he and the others meet an absent-minded man called Looker who is also on the train, and is almost knocked over when Ash shouted his determination and drops the lunchboxes he is carrying which Brock, Ash and Dawn are all able to catch. Ash apologizes and asks Looker if he's ok, to which the muddle-minded gentleman replies in the positive. Brock asks him if the boxed lunch was the train station's best food, and Looker gives Ash, Dawn and Brock one as a gift as he had accidentally ordered too many from the seller. The gang introduced themselves to Looker, and Looker introduced himself. Team Rocket, in disguise, also receive the box lunch from Looker. But Looker still had lots of food, so he decided to give it to the driver, his assistant and the driver's Pokémon. Brock told Ash that the Pokémon should be an Electric-type Pokémon.

As the train traveled on to Lake Acuity, the driver tells his Pokémon, an Ampharos, to use Thunderbolt. The driver's assistant tells the gang that the train is powered by Ampharos's electric attacks, leaving the group impressed by the cooperation between Ampharos and the driver. Looker gives the box lunch to the train crew when suddenly the driver stops the train as the signal ahead is set at red for danger.

The driver decides to check what's happening, however when he makes a call he is informed there is nothing wrong with the line ahead despite the signal that says otherwise. As there may be a problem with the line that hasn't been relayed to the operators the assistant and Looker decide to go outside and check while the driver goes to inform the passengers of the situation. Meanwhile the gang decide this is the perfect time to eat their lunches, and as the train is delayed they decide to eat it outside and let their Pokémon out of their Poké Balls for a while. Team Rocket decide to take advantage of the opportunity and make an attempt to steal all the Pokémon. As they were about to leave their seat, the driver told them not to worry while they can watch the scenery. In a bad mood, Jessie almost tells the driver about their intentions however luckily Meowth covers her big mouth in time.

Outside, Looker discovers that the track that has supposedly hasn't been used for a long time doesn't have one speck of dust on it, implying it's getting used on a regular basis despite being closed down. The assistant replies that it could be a prank, however the junction points on to the 'disused' line have also been changed. Looker realizes that the points were changed intentionally, and the assistant tells Looker to go back to the train while he would go and investigate the junction. However, rather that head back to the train Looker heads down the mysterious line.

Ash decides it's the perfect time for him and his Pokémon to get some quick training done before the battle against Paul. Then suddenly a strong wind appears... however it's not a wind but Team Rocket with a new suction machine attached to their balloon that sucks up everyone's Pokémon (besides Grotle and Mamoswine). The gang demand their Pokémon back, but naturally Jessie refuses. Team Rocket prepare to make their getaway when the driver notices what is happening and has Ampharos use Signal Beam on the balloon. This allows most of the Pokémon to escape but Pikachu, Piplup and Happiny get caught in a net. Ampharos jumps up to the net while the driver commands Ampharos to destroy the remote control. However it doesn't work and all Ampharos manages to do is burst a hole in the balloon sending it flying away, together with Team Rocket and the four Pokémon.

At the end of the disused line, Looker finds a warehouse and heads inside. Meanwhile Ampharos is able to use ThunderPunch on the net, freeing the three Pokémon while Team Rocket and the balloon fall to the ground knocking them out. Ash has Staraptor look for the missing Pokémon while Pikachu and the rest came to a junction. Piplup naturally takes the leads and walks the front road with Happiny, but they quickly come running back chased by an angry flock of Fearow. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt and Ampharos uses Signal Beam however the Fearow are able to dodge it, sending Pikachu and Ampharos on the run as well. Soon all four come to a cliff and have no choice but to jump down, luckily this is enough to lose the Fearow. Meanwhile the assistant receives a call from the driver, learning that the Pokémon had been stolen by Team Rocket.

Continuing the search for their Trainers, the Pokémon find a big boulder blocking the way. Pikachu and Ampharos are unable move to it, making Piplup laugh at them... however Piplup is quick to stop laughing when his BubbleBeam and Whirlpool still can't make it budge. Naturally it comes down to Happiny and her strength to move it. After grabbing the boulder, the Playhouse Pokémon tosses it up to the sky and then throws it in the river.

Inside the mysterious warehouse, Looker finds that the disused track leads directly to Lake Acuity. Taking out his detective's goggles, he finds footprints on the floor and then a piece of paper.

Pikachu and the others continue their journey, however Team Rocket are down but not out as the Pokémon fell into another of their traps and end up all caught in a bag. Luckily, Ash and the others are nearby and Ash had Staraptor free the Pokémon with Aerial Ace. Team Rocket then decide to battle the Trainers to try to reclaim the Pokémon, sending out Carnivine (which shows James how much it loves him by causing him pain as usual) and Seviper. Things look like they're going badly, however Sudowoodo manages to save the day when it uses a new attack, Hammer Arm. Then Pikachu finishes with Volt Tackle, ending Team Rocket's train ride and sending them blasting off.

At sunset, the assistant, Looker and the gang return to the train ready to get moving again. Looker explains his long absence, telling everyone he took the time to look at the scenery. With the signal and junction set correct and Ampharos ready to get things moving again the train can finally finish its trip to Lake Acuity. Looker wishes Ash good luck for his battle against Paul, and Ash thanks him excitedly preparing for the battle against his rival.

Later, at the back of the train's carriage, Looker calls his superiors. He explains that the organization that stopped the train are moving something to Lake Acuity and he will continue his investigation. He then takes out and looks at the piece of paper that he found in the warehouse which carries the logo of the group that stopped the train and is planning something at Lake Acuity... Team Galactic!